Browse Items (1458 total)

  • Tags: military living conditions

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Colin Bell spent eighteen months as a newly qualified pilot instructing trainees in America. He completed 50 operations as a pilot on Mosquitos on the Light Night Striking Force.
Colin talks of his entry interview into the RAF, his time at an…

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Lists activities from 0600 hours until lights out at 2030 with appropriate humorous religious quotes.

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George recalls his training over 18 months, including crewing up. He goes on to recall his first operation and mentions others involved, and describes being shot down on on 12 September 1944. George then describes evading and his time as a prisoner…

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Learned that his son was prisoner of war and explaining that the station had a POW fund for sending comforts to prisoners from squadrons at Mildenhall. Ask for George's prisoner number and camp address.

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Four men carrying a container on a pole with huts on the left and wire with clothes hanging on the right.

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Three bunks, the bottom one near the floor and with an approximately 50 cm space between each. There is a vertical support a third of the way from the left. The bottom two bunks are covered with a variety of unidentifiable objects. Clothes hang on…

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Man sitting at table covered with various items.
View is looking down. In the top left and centre is a table covered with bowls, boxes, a jug, mugs and other items. A man sites on the left end a bench at lower left of the table eating from a bowl.…

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ATurnerLA101115.mp3
Leslie Turner worked as a pattern maker at Longbridge before he volunteered for the Air Force. He trained as an observer in South Africa and flew 33 operations as a bomb aimer with 10 Squadron.

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MThomsonGB1572977-240131-12.pdf
Covers in detail. Description of Britain now, reception centre, rations, clothing, petrol coupons, pay and allowances, identity cards, on leave at home. on leave in London and outside London, London accommodation, hospitality schemes, cheap travel,…

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Events for Christmas 1943 for RAF Westcott and Oakley. Includes meal menus, greetings from station commander, events (sport and entertainment) for each station.

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440907.pdf
Reports arrival of letters and thanks them for sending on his disks. Mentions journey and then comments on their news. Comments of poor weather and rain. Says the crew are all in good form. War news was good and mentions that black out restrictions…

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440824.pdf
Replies to their latest letter with comment on their activities and news. Writes little of his activities but mentions visit to Newmarket and Mildenhall. Reports sending off a parcel with books, laundry, sweets and chocolate (from flying rations).…

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440817.pdf
Comments on their news from their latest letter. Writes a little of his activities including sleeping in until 4.00 pm and then going to the cinema. Mentions reading papers. Comments on war news and General Eisenhower's plea for extra effort and that…

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Comments on their news in reply to their latest letter. Mentions war news and that Norman (pilot) had bought a car. Writes of reading and going to cinema.

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440808-0001.jpg
Acknowledges receipt of their latest letter and comments on their news and activities. Writes a little of his activities including visit to Cambridge. Notes that he had not had much time for reading or the cinema.

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440802.pdf
Comments on their news and activities recorded in their latest letters. Mentions also receiving airgraph. air letter and papers. Catches up with friends and acquaintances. Writes of films he had seen and books he had read. Mentions a little of his…

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Said he had not received any mail from them. Comment on the weather and tells of his activities including visiting local village and its cinema. Spent his time reading.

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440625-0001.jpg
Reports arrival of their latest letter as well as papers and aero modeller. Comments on their news and activities. Writes that he had lots of time for reading. Mentions a little of his activities and cinema being main attraction.

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440623.pdf
Writes of receiving mail catching up with him. Comments on their news and activities. Says he does not have much news and has little work on. Mentioned flying a short trip and some other activities. Catches up with more of their news and gossip.…

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440616-0001.jpg
Reports receipt of father's latest letter and answers questions and comments on their news and activities. Goes on to describe some of his activities. Says they might be due to fly that night. Writes about what he was reading.

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440612-0001.jpg
Provides comment on their news and activities recorded in their last letter. Was expecting next leave of seven to nine days so he would be able to see friends neighbours. Writes describing his activities, classes and entertainment (cinema). Mentioned…

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440609.pdf
Writes describing his journey to new location and visit to London where he met up with some of his crew. Provides some description of new camp. Notes the mess was well equipped and meals good. Mentioned station dance and not having to work too hard. …

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]440510.pdf
Acknowledges receipt of their latest letter. Describes some visits to the cinema. Writes of some of his crew going into Haverhill to visit circus. Says weather had been fine but he had not flown. Comments on rumour of a move. Comments on their news…

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EThomsonGBThomson[Fam]430404.pdf
Writes that he was now back in Manchester. Describes and comments on his new location and situation. Compares his location unfavourably to Glasgow but pleased that there was more to see and do locally. Mentions discipline in the camp not being too…

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Jack writes that they have had a German measles outbreak. This could mean a delay in completing the course. He says keep smiling.

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